Tramper rescued near Nelson thanks to locator beacon

A tramper has been rescued after setting off the emergency locator beacon his mother insisted he carry.

The 21-year-old Auckland man developed symptoms of hypothermia after falling in a river near Nelson.

The beacon signal was received by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand at 3.45pm today.

A helicopter from Garden City Helicopters, with a paramedic onboard, was directed to Granity Pass Hutt near Mt Owen, and the man and his companion were picked up at approximately 5.15pm and were flown to Nelson.

He told rescuers his mother had insisted he buy the beacon. It was the first major trip he had taken since buying it.